Acer TimelineX 1870t (finally it has landed)

A Rose by any other name...
V5-171-6616 | Product Model







Processor: Intel Core i5-3317U ( Ivy Bridge ULV i5 )
Ram: 6GB - DDR3 (assuming upgradable)
Hard Drive: 500GB @ 5400RPM (need to swap out for an SSD)
Screen Size: 11.6" - 1366 x 768 - Active Matrix TFT
Graphics: Intel HD 4000
Wi-Fi: IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth: 4.0 + HS
Other: USB2.0 x2, USB3.0 x1, LAN, VGA, HDMI, Headphone/Microphone, SD-Card Slot, Webcam
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (Free Windows 8 upgrade)
Battery: 4 Cell, 2500mah, 5 hours
Dimensions: 11.22"(W) x 7.95"(L) x 1.1"(H)
Weight: 3.05 lbs
Price: $549


Man finally a worthy upgrade for my TimelineX 1410 (su2300)

Only 2 minor complain: Small battery (hopefully larger after market batteries will be available soon), and no backlight keyboard

 

And a $#!+ 1366x768 screen! I can't believe we have DEVOLVED in screen res from 1280*800p to 768p since the laptops of 5 years ago. What is going on...

I'm on an Aspire 1410 (it's not a technically a Timeline model) as well, and looking to upgrade.

I love how light these 11.6" Acer's are, and that I can carry and toss one around like a book.

But in the 1410s, there was a horrible fan noise defect, which I am affected by.

 

Ya i have the fan noise issue as well, when the CPU is running at full speed. But lucky it doesn't come up that often, so it doesn't bug me that much.

As far as the screen goes, it is the exact same resolution as the 1410. I actually think 1366x768 is the perfect resolution for 11.6 screen, so i am glad they stuck with it.

Plus if Acer went with 16:10 resolution screen (1280x800) on 11.6 inch, we would lose width on the screen/laptop, and might lead to a shrunken sized keyboard. So the fact that they improve the keyboard on the v5-171 by using a full size chicklet keyboard is a big plus on my book.

 

Yes I know but what i"m sayin is that there should be progression... improvement, etc.

I paid <$300 for the 1410 (Bing CashBack back in the day), and now I'd have to pay about double for a newer comptuer with slightly faster CPU and better RAM bigger HDD, but many of the same shortcomings.

Not to mention battery life has been shortened to 5hr from 6hr (or 8hr for actual Timeline 1810 models)

 

Ya battery life is a bummer, I been searching google for third party larger batteries, but no luck so far.

However I don't think the CPU is a slight upgrade. From all the benchmark i read so far, it seem to be a 3x to 4x difference CPU power, and a 4x+ upgrade on GPU power.

Ram wise 6GB is a really weird configuration, why do 4GB+2GB stick, but at least we only have to buy 1 stick to get it to 8GB.

For a HDD, i wish they would just gave us 250 or 320gb, and use the cost saving to increase the ram to 8GB, since most of us is going to stick a SSD in there anyways, to go with the i5.

As far as the price goes, I actually think $549 for an i5 is a really good deal. Remember this is the next generation of the 1810t, and the i5 1830t. Back in the day, those 2 machine retail for $599 - $699. So 1410 vs V5 is not a fair comparison.

if you want to compare 1410, check out the ao756, it is the Celeron processor counter part to the v5. It is also missing bluetooth (like our 1410). Currently best buy have a deal for them for $249, even cheaper then then price you pay for the 1410.

So i still think this is an awesome deal for the machine's spec, consider that all the other i5-3317u i come across cost at least $799+ even when they are on sale.

 

Hmm, not sure what to make of this.

Acer 11.6" LCD Dual-Core, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD Laptop Computer with Webcam at HSN.com

Supposedly HSN is claiming a version of the ao756 with a battery size of 4400mah. 76% larger capacity. The interesting thing is that the V5 share the same battery as the ao756, so does that mean there is going to be a larger battery for the V5 now? Or is this a typo on the part of HSN.

Also I Google the model number from HSN, and it shows on Acer website, but price higher then the other models with higher spec... I wounder if that mean there is indeed a larger battery on those models...

 

Anyone own of of these yet ?
I'm trying to find out if I can put a bigger hard drive in that's 9.5mm high.
Thanks

 

I think the travelmate version of the 11.6" notebook is nicer looking. Could not agree more about the battery but I think HD resolution is okay in a notebook this size.

 

Anyone get one of these yet? I'm really hoping I can find one of these in Canada before school starts. I was pretty set on getting the dm1, even though I don't want a e1-1200/e450 cpu/apu. But most retailers are still selling last gen's with 2nd gen i3-380UM. If I can get the 1870t with IB that would be great. Of course I want to know if there's any issue with it too.

 

My first post to this forum. I have a V5-171 incoming...Should be at my fingertips on Monday or Tuesday. Here are three reviews of it:

Acer Aspire V5-171-6867 Review - Watch CNET's Video & Read Our Review

Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550 -- Engadget

Review: Acer Aspire V5 171 11.6-inch notebook puts affordable into ultraportables | Tecca


I have a Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 11.6-Inch Laptop. This is my main notebook for work as I travel alot in the city that I live in by mountainbike to get between work gigs. I bought the V5 as a back up. So far, The battery life looks a bit on the weak side. However, the specs are similar to my Acer 1830T. When I have it for a day or two I will chime in my opinion of it.

 

Just to add if you buying use code 50FBV5171 to get 50 off from acer website. Just ordered for 499 so you guys debating on it at 550, 500 is even sweeter with free shipping.

 

I ordered mine thru BandH for 550 and free shipping.

Acer Aspire V5-171-6616-US 11.6" Notebook NX.M3AAA.002 B&H

 

The AO756 with 4GB is 299 and the V5 is 499. For 200 a 7mm 240GB SSD could be thrown in so for everyday usage maybe the AO756 is the better deal. My problem is I hate 1366x768 so while I want an affordable ultra portable the resolution is making me cringe.....................

 

I looked at the AO756 and am interested in it....but my first netbook was a 751h 11inch with an atom Z520 cpu....the battery life was great but the lags and jamming/freezing were painful...thus I bought an i7 1830T... and now have this i5 on the way... prefer the engine to the battery life... Worth the sacrifice for me and makes me use my time more wisely when I am not plugged in...

 

I was about to purchase the AO756 so I went to BB. Got to play with it and have to say the speakers are the absolute worse I've ever heard. Not loud and super tinny. There is no way I would purchase either of these machines as that is a deal breaker for me. If they were at least as good as the LT-3103 I had a whilke back I would have accepted that, but not these....................

 

Well, I have had the V5-171 for about four days now and am generally impressed. The keyboard and screen are good but not great. The speakers are not great but no worse than any other 11.6 inch Acer that I have had or have tried out. My only gripe is the Battery life. I get about 3 hours and 25 minutes on my Battery Bar indicator. I find the 4 cell battery a weak effort on the part of Acer. My Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 11.6-Inch has a 6 cell and gets close to 6 hours.... Thus I am hoping that a third party will come out with a 6 cell is this likely and what website would have it?

Where the V5-171 is better than the AS1830T-68U118 is in the touchpad. The touchpad is very responsive and easy to adjust and is well able to complete multi gestures with ease. Overall the V5-171 is a decent successor to the AS1830T-68U118 and the i5 and ivory bridge ULV makes it worth the purchase.

Anyone know where to get a third party battery for a V5-171?

 

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I kind of have to disagree with you there - I have a V5-171 and both a 1410/1810T (The machine before the 1830T/AO756) and the touchpad is a let-down on the new machines. The fact that there is no distinct button makes it a pain to use, and it's also a bit twitchy. It's not easy to do stuff like hold-and-drag on this machine since the pad will try and re-center itself.
The biggest complaint that I had on the V5 is really the missing HDD indicator LEDs. Why would Acer get rid of the one thing that can tell you whether the machine is not responsive because the hard drive is churning, or whether one of the apps blew a gasket and froze you out? The lack of indicators for Bluetooth/Wifi I can understand, but a missing HDD blinker? That's annoying. Especally when I came from the 1410/1810T, where there is an LED for almost anything, and 2 hardware switches in the front for the wireless comms stuff, one for the wifi, and one for the bluetooth. Most other notebooks out there doesn't even have that. Good design choice, too bad Acer cost-cut that one out in the refreshes.

As for the extended battery - yes it exists, and it's an Acer, not a third party - Acer NP.BTP11.008, Sanyo AL12X32. CDW carries them for $45 each, 60 after TS&H, the wait-time is almost 3 weeks between order and delivery though.
Sanyo AL12X32 - notebook battery - Li-Ion - 5000 mAh - NP.BTP11.008 - Notebook Batteries - CDW.com